Noticeboard Archive
News of relevance to Consumers and Carers for this year.| 2008/5/21 |
Extra funding for carer support services
The Australian Government is providing certainty and extra funding for carer organisations through $6.9 million in national one-off grants for community-based respite and carer support services through the National Respite for Carers Program and Commonwealth Carelink Program. one-off grants will be distributed through the National Respite for Carers Program and Commonwealth Carelink Program.
It is estimated that nearly 130,000 carers use the National Respite for Carers Program and Commonwealth Carelink Programs a year - accessing respite care, counselling, carer information and support services and planning.
To view the full media release click here.
| 2008/5/20 |
Inquiry into better support for carers
The Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth will conduct an inquiry to determine how to better meet the needs of carers.
In announcing the inquiry Committee Chair Annette Ellis said "Carers are often the hidden and unsung heroes who tirelessly look after family members and friends who cannot look after themselves. The demands placed on these carers often mean that they are exhausted, socially isolated and under extreme financial pressure. Not surprisingly, carers have been found to have significantly worse physical health and psychological wellbeing than the general population."
The Committee embraces this opportunity to hear first-hand through a formal inquiry from carers about their day-to-day experiences and to learn more about the social, economic and physical costs of being a carer. Interested persons and organisations are invited to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Friday 4 July 2008. For more information click here.
| 2008/5/20 |
Recovery: multicultural story project
The NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) is collecting personal recovery stories from people from people of CALD backgrounds who have a mental illness. The TMHC plans to produce a book from this collection to be launched during Multicultural Health Week in July. If you have a story that you would like to share with this project please contact 02 9840 3800.
| 2008/5/15 |
2008-2009 Budget
Within the 2008-2009 Budget there are a number of measures that relate to promotion of mental health, prevention of mental ill health and early intervention. The following links may be of interest:
- Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statements
- Child and Maternal Health: Perinatal Depression – National Plan
- Closing the Gap In Indigenous Health
- Mental Health Nurse and Psychology Scholarships
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Media Releases.
For a complete list of portfolio statements click here.
| 2008/5/5 |
Raising awareness and recognition for people with biploar disorder: online survey
This international survey for people with bipolar aims to gain a patient perspective (rather than clinical) on important issues. The survey is being conducted by PatientView, in association with the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) and GAMIAN-Europe, as well as the European family and carer federation, EUFAMI. The survey is part of a new project to create a global website for people living with bipolar depression, designed by people with bipolar themselves.
The brief survey is due to close on Monday 30th June 2008 and is available from online bipolar survey.
| 2008/4/23 |
National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy
As a part of the Social Inclusion Agenda, the Australian Government is developing a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy to address the barriers faced by people with disability and/or mental illness that make it harder for them to gain and keep work. The Strategy will be developed in close consultation with consumers, peak bodies, employers, state and territory governments and experts.
The discussion paper provides instructions and examples of how to submit ideas and also outlines the background and purpose of the Strategy. More information can be found at Commonwealth Department of Employment Education and Workplace Relations webpage. Submissions close 30 June.
| 2008/4/16 |
Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) Carers Engagement Project
MHCA is currently organising and delivering a series of nationwide workshops that will provide opportunities for family members and carers of a person with a mental illness to further develop their coping and management skills.
There will be specific workshops for carers who are Indigenous, from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, and young carers.
Mental health carers will not only have the opportunity to share and learn but also provide the MHCA with information of relevance to advance the issue and needs of mental health carers in Australia at the national level. For more information about the workshops and where they will be held go to Mental Health Council of Australia website.
| 2008/4/7 |
Carers research project
A clinical psychology PhD student at the University of Wollongong is undertaking research with families or people who care for someone with a serious mental illness:"Paving the way: can identity, relationships & perceived control help map the caregiving journey?"
If you are a carer or relative (sibling, partner, parent, adult child or friend), are 18 years or older and would like to paricipate, please phone 0404 159 379, or email Cathy Bentley.
| 2008/4/1 |
New research into parent fatigue
According to Associate Professor Jan Matthews, Director of Research and Practice at the Parenting Research Centre (PRC), when parents are coping with fatigue it can have an impact on their ability to raise children. This survey of parent wellbeing will help to determine the level of fatigue that families are coping with on a daily basis, as well as to identify any potential impact on parenting. The research findings will be of real value in developing information and strategies to help support families.
The PRC would like to hear from any parents of children aged 0-6 who would like to participate in the parent fatigue and wellbeing survey: for more information go to Parent Fatigue Survey.
| 2008/3/31 |
Angels and Demons: Andrew Denton looks at the world of mental illness
At the 2007 Annual Mental Health Services Conference in Melbourne Andrew Denton met people from many walks of life who have struggled with severe mental illness. "Angels and Demons" provides a rare insight into the experiences of those with mental illness and finds the possibility of a better life for people often dismissed as beyond hope.
This episode of Enough Rope will screen on ABC TV, Monday April 7th at 9.35pm.
| 2008/3/7 |
Self-injury and eating pathology questionnaire
A student of the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at Deakin University, Melbourne, is seeking females aged 18 years and over to fill out an online questionnaire. This research is looking at how specific personality traits (impulsivity and compulsivity) may or may not be related to certain behaviours (disordered eating and self-harm) in females. This questionnaire will take about half an hour to fill out. The results will be confidential, and can be anonymous (if you opt not to receive the results of the research or to participate in the follow-up study). This research project has Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee approval.
To fill out the questionnaire go to: Deakin University webpage.
| 2008/3/3 |
Membership of COPMI (Children of Parents with a Mental Illness) National Family Forum: Expression of interest
The COPMI National Family Forum and its governing body AICAFMHA is committed to participation of consumers, carers and young people in the COPMI initiative. One of the participation avenues is the COPMI National Family Forum (CNFF) that will consist of a group of 8-10 people who will inform and advise the COPMI team on consumer and carer perspectives. Applicants for the CNFF will be selected from a diverse group of consumers, carers and young people so that as far as possible a variety of communities are included.
Expressions of interest are due by Friday the 14th of March 2008. For more information contact Chris Alliston, ph: 08 83670888 Ext 30.
| 2008/2/15 |
'Social Alternatives' issue on mental health: call for papers
Social Alternatives is an independent, quarterly refereed journal, committed to the principles of social justice. The journal will publish a special issue focusing on mental health and is seeking relevant papers, personal stories and poetry. The submission deadline is 1st June 2008 with a release date in November 2008.
Guidelines for interested contributors can be found at: Social Alternatives webpage. Or contact guest editor Dr. Victoria Palmer (Research Fellow, Mental Health, Primary Care Research Unit, The University of Melbourne)
E-mail: vpalmer@unimelb.edu.au.
| 2008/2/4 |
Workshops and grants for small non-government organisations
The Department of Health and Ageing has provided the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) with $6 million to assist in the development of the capacity of non-government mental health organisations and other organisations delivering services relating to mental health. The MHCA will be providing 14 free, full day workshops around the country (designed to build stronger not for profit organisations and projects) and one-off grants of up to $40,000.
The MHCA is keen to hear from organisations working in: drug and alcohol rehabilitation, counseling, telephone help lines, family support services, men’s services, asylum seeker support, eating disorders, suicide prevention and addiction.
For more information please contact Rachelle Irving, or go to the MHCA website.
| 2008/1/29 |
Launch of the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives
The National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives is set to be launched in April 2008 following the National Register workshop (31 March–1 April) that will further develop the skills of 60 mental health consumer and carer representatives. The workshop will strengthen the skills of participants to successfully promote the interests of consumers and carers at a national level. The workshop will focus on leadership, advocacy, training, policy development, mentoring and a range of other relevant topics.
Those seeking a mental health consumer and/or carer representative should contact the Project Manager, Emma de Tassanyi, (Project Manager, Consumer and Carer Mentoring Project) Mental Health Council of Australia on (02) 6285 3100 or at emma.detassanyi@mhca.org.au.